DELIVERING 300 bottles of free hand sanitiser to the local authority, charities, care homes, sheltered housing and Police Scotland – and providing free home delivery for the over 60s, vulnerable or self-isolating.

These are just two emergency measures introduced by a Fife-based convenience store chain to combat the effects of the Covid-19 crisis.

Eros Retail, whose Cardenden store is in the village's Cardenden Road, is busy trying to play a role in helping the communities around their seven Fife outlets cope with the coronavirus outbreak.

Eros employed 20 people who had lost their jobs as a result of the outbreak; introduced Free Coffee for all NHS and Emergency Services staff until further notice; delivered hundreds of pounds worth of free groceries to a food bank and the Cottage Family Centre in Kirkcaldy; in response to massive demand for flour and yeast, Eros Retail spoke to their bakery partners, award-winning Cupar-based Fisher & Donaldson, whom worked collectively to bag flour into 1kg bags and get them to customers; increased its support for local businesses by placing a first order with Fife-based John Henderson Meat Specialists, whose supply to high-end hotels and restaurants had collapsed; enhanced its partnership with other local suppliers like Graham's the Family Dairy, Fisher & Donaldson, and Raith Fruit & Flowers; rewarded staff by bringing forward a pay increase by two weeks, with further bonuses planned, and introducing full free coffees and discretionary food budgets during shifts.

They are also offering prompt payment to suppliers where required and offering any other kind of support required; have introduced robust hygiene practices in all stores, ensuring they offer a safe and clean workplace and shopping environment for customers; and have provided constant and clear guidance to all staff in relation to Covid 19.

Managing Director, Harris Aslam, said: “Shops and businesses across the country have gone the extra mile to ensure no-one in their area has been neglected.

“Our own amazing team have been working round the clock to deliver nearly 2,000 packages of groceries and other household essentials which had been ordered online in the past week.

“We are determined not to let anyone down, even though the demand for deliveries is growing all the time.”

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